Burnet County

Key demographics for Burnet County, Texas (latest Census/ACS estimates):

• Population: ~54,000 (2023 estimate)
• Age:
  • Median age: ~47–48
  • Under 18: ~20–21%
  • 65 and over: ~24–26%
• Gender: ~50.8% female, ~49.2% male
• Race and Hispanic origin:
  • White alone: ~86%
  • Black or African American alone: ~2%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: ~1%
  • Asian: ~1%
  • Two or more races: ~3%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): ~23–24%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: ~74%
• Households (ACS 2018–2022):
  • Number of households: ~20,000
  • Persons per household: ~2.5
  • Owner-occupied housing rate: ~77–79%
  • Households with children under 18: ~24%
  • Family households (approx.): ~65–70%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census; 2018–2022 American Community Survey; 2023 Population Estimates. Percentages rounded.

Burnet County, TX snapshot (estimates, 2024):

• Estimated email users: 44,000–48,000 residents use email at least monthly, based on county population ~51,000–52,000 and typical U.S. adoption in small/rural counties.
• Age distribution of email users:
  • 13–24: ~15–18% (high school/college; near‑universal access via smartphones)
  • 25–44: ~28–32% (workforce; near‑universal)
  • 45–64: ~28–32% (workforce; near‑universal)
  • 65+: ~18–22% (strong, though slightly lower than younger groups)
• Gender split: roughly even; any gap in usage is small.
• Digital access trends:
  • Broadband is strongest in and around Marble Falls and Burnet (cable/fiber clusters); outlying rural areas rely more on fixed wireless, DSL, or satellite.
  • Mobile broadband coverage is widespread along main corridors; some valleys/ranchlands have weaker signal quality and lower speeds.
  • A noticeable share of households are mobile‑only for internet; affordability and terrain contribute to uneven fixed‑line adoption.
• Local density/connectivity context:
  • Population density is roughly 50 people per square mile—well below the Texas average—contributing to higher last‑mile costs and patchy high‑speed availability.

Notes: Figures are modeled from national/regional usage rates applied to local demographics; refine with current FCC and Texas broadband maps for project‑level planning.

Summary of mobile phone usage in Burnet County, Texas (focus on how it differs from statewide patterns)

At‑a‑glance user estimates

• Population baseline: roughly 52,000–55,000 residents (2023–2025 estimates). About 78–80% are adults.
• Adult smartphone users: approximately 36,000–40,000 adults (roughly 85–90% of adults), a few points below the Texas average due to an older age profile.
• Teen users: an additional ~3,500–4,500 teens likely have smartphones (high uptake among 13–17).
• Households that rely on cellular data as their only home internet: approximately 2,500–3,500 households (on the order of 12–18% of households), a higher share than the Texas average.
• Active mobile lines registered to county addresses: on the order of 60,000–70,000 lines (smartphones, tablets, hotspots, and IoT), lower per‑capita than large Texas metros but higher reliance per household where wired broadband is limited.

Demographic patterns affecting mobile usage

• Age: Burnet County is older than Texas overall (notably in Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay, and lake communities). Smartphone adoption among adults 65+ trails the state by several points; basic/feature phone use is more common in this group. Younger working households along the US‑281 corridor show near‑universal smartphone adoption.
• Income and plan mix: In rural precincts and smaller towns (e.g., Bertram, Briggs), prepaid plans and mobile hotspot use are more common. With the end of ACP subsidies in 2024, some lower‑income households shifted toward mobile‑only internet; this effect appears stronger here than in urban Texas.
• Hispanic/Spanish‑speaking share is below the state average; language‑driven plan features (international calling, WhatsApp-centric usage) are present but less dominant than in many Texas counties.
• Commute and tourism: Weekday commuting toward Austin suburbs and weekend inflows to the Highland Lakes produce pronounced peaks in cell traffic around Marble Falls, Lake LBJ, Inks Lake, and major events (e.g., Bluebonnet Festival), leading to temporary capacity strain that is more seasonal/peaked than typical statewide patterns.

Digital infrastructure highlights

• Coverage footprint:
  • Strongest along US‑281 (Marble Falls–Burnet), TX‑29, and TX‑71 corridors.
  • AT&T and Verizon generally deliver more consistent rural coverage west and north of Burnet; T‑Mobile’s low‑band 5G has expanded coverage but remains spottier in hilly, granite terrain.
  • Notable dead or weak zones persist in canyons, along parts of the Llano River basin, and on ranchlands away from highways—gaps more common than the Texas average.
• 5G availability and performance:
  • Low‑band 5G is common in and around Marble Falls, Burnet, Granite Shoals, and Horseshoe Bay.
  • Mid‑band (C‑band/2.5 GHz) is present mainly in town centers and along 281; mmWave is rare. As a result, average 5G speeds are lower and less consistent than in Texas metros.
• Capacity and densification:
  • Macro towers dominate; small‑cell nodes are limited to a few commercial corridors. Event and weekend tourism can saturate sectors near the lakes.
• Backhaul and middle‑mile:
  • Fiber backhaul follows the main highway corridors; outside them, microwave backhaul is still used. Ongoing state (BDO/BEAD) awards and utility builds are extending fiber laterals to rural pockets, which should improve future cellular capacity off the highway grid.
• Public safety:
  • FirstNet (AT&T) coverage is established on primary corridors and in towns; off‑grid response areas still experience signal reliability challenges compared with urban Texas.

How Burnet County differs from the Texas statewide picture

• Slightly lower overall smartphone adoption, driven by a higher share of older adults.
• Higher reliance on cellular data as the only home internet connection (mobile‑only households), linked to patchier wired broadband options in rural tracts.
• More pronounced coverage variability: good along corridors, but with persistent rural shadow zones due to terrain—less typical in flatter parts of Texas.
• 5G is less dense and skews low‑band; mid‑band capacity is mostly town‑centered, unlike the broader mid‑band footprints now common in major Texas metros.
• Peak demand is more seasonal and event‑driven (tourism and lakes), creating short, sharp congestion episodes rather than the steady urban peak patterns seen statewide.
• Carrier mix tilts slightly toward providers with stronger rural footprints; switching based on ranchland and lakehouse coverage is more common than in urban counties.

Notes on sources and method

• Estimates triangulate recent ACS Computer and Internet Use tables (smartphone and cellular‑only subscription indicators), FCC/National Broadband Map coverage layers, carrier public 5G maps, CTIA statewide adoption trends, and rural/age adoption differentials from Pew. Exact figures vary by year and tract; numbers above are rounded ranges intended for planning.

Below is a concise, data‑driven snapshot for Burnet County, TX. Figures are estimates derived from national benchmarks (Pew Research Center 2023/2024; DataReportal 2024) adjusted for the county’s older age profile (ACS) and rural context. Use ranges as directional, and verify exact reach in platform ad managers.

Headline user stats

• Population: ~53,000; adults (18+): ~42,000.
• Social media users: ~38,000–41,000 (about 70–77% of residents; ~80–85% of adults).
• Gender split: ~49% male, ~51% female.

Most-used platforms (estimated share of adults who use each; overlap expected)

• YouTube: 82–88%
• Facebook: 72–80%
• Instagram: 38–44%
• TikTok: 22–28%
• Snapchat: 18–22%
• Pinterest: 32–40%
• LinkedIn: 16–22%
• X (Twitter): 15–20%
• Reddit: 10–15%
• Nextdoor: 10–15%

Age-group usage (share who use any social media)

• 18–29: ~90%+; heavy Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok; uses Facebook mainly for groups/Marketplace and event info.
• 30–49: ~85%; Facebook and YouTube dominate; Instagram moderate; TikTok rising; strong use of school/league groups and Marketplace.
• 50–64: ~70–75%; Facebook and YouTube first; Pinterest common; lighter Instagram/TikTok.
• 65+: ~45–55%; Facebook primary; YouTube for news/how‑to; limited on newer apps.

Gender tendencies

• Women: higher on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest; more local group participation, events, and shopping/Marketplace activity.
• Men: higher on YouTube, X/Twitter, Reddit; more sports, outdoor, DIY, tech content.

Behavioral trends to know

• Community and commerce: Facebook Groups and Marketplace are the county’s “public square” for local news, school updates, service referrals, lost/found pets, and buy/sell.
• Video is growing: Short‑form (Reels/TikTok) for food spots, real estate, and outdoor recreation; YouTube for how‑to, product research, and local business discovery.
• Civic and safety info: County/city/school pages and local media push alerts primarily via Facebook; X used more by officials/media than residents.
• Messaging patterns: Snapchat among teens; Messenger common across ages; WhatsApp usage present in bilingual/Hispanic households.
• Seasonality: Spikes tied to lake/bluebonnet/tourism weekends and local festivals; visual platforms (FB/IG) see higher posting and check‑ins.
• Best bets for marketers:
  • Reach/response: Facebook/Instagram (groups, geo‑targeted ads, Marketplace).
  • Awareness: YouTube pre‑roll and Shorts.
  • Creative: Short, local, mobile‑first video; testimonials and before/after visuals perform well.
• Timing: Engagement typically peaks evenings (7–10 pm) and weekends; school‑year bumps around 7–8 am and lunch.

Method note

• County‑level social stats aren’t directly published; figures above adapt national platform adoption and daily use patterns to Burnet County’s age mix and rural profile. For precise counts, check platform ad tools (location: Burnet County, TX) and local page/group analytics.